Hello, my name is Karla Madison and this is my blog about the importance of dental care during pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my second child, my gums would bleed when I brushed my teeth. I went to my dentist and he told me that I had pregnancy gingivitis. He also informed me that this is a common condition for pregnant women because their hormones are changing during pregnancy. I followed the instructions of my dentist and my gums stopped bleeding and were healthy again. I also started doing research about the importance of dental care during pregnancy. If you're pregnant, you should read this blog to learn why it's so important to keep up with dental care while pregnant. This blog will give you the information you need so that you can have healthy teeth and gums during your pregnancy.
The services that your dentist provides generally fall into three categories: preventive, restorative, and cosmetic. Here is a bit of information about each category.
Preventive Services
Preventive dental care helps keep the teeth healthy by preventing problems from developing. This type of care includes routine services such as fluoride treatments, sealant applications, and regular dental cleanings.
Without fluoride treatments, the teeth remain more susceptible to decay. The fluoride draws displaced minerals back to weakened areas of the tooth enamel, attaching to the minerals and forming new tooth material to strengthen the teeth. Fluoride applications are often performed during routine dental visits.
Sealants may also be applied during a routine appointment. The sealants, which are plastic coatings, are applied to the grooved areas of the back teeth that are used to grind the food during chewing. The deep grooves encourage the settling of bits of food and plaque. The sealants form a barrier, shielding the teeth from substances that could cause decay.
Regular dental cleanings involve the scaling of the teeth to remove tartar accumulations. Tartar, which is hardened plaque, can trap bacteria and additional plaque in its pores. Since the tartar often accumulates near the gum line, without its removal, gum disease is more likely to present.
Restorative Care
The dentist performs restorative services to correct dental health problems such as cavities, dental infections, and broken teeth. For a cavity, a dental filling may sufficiently treat the condition. The dentist removes the decayed portion of the tooth and fills it with a suitable substance, such as composite resin. If the cavity is quite large, a dental crown may be needed to further protect the tooth.
The dental provider may treat dental infections with oral antibiotics and mouth rinses. However, if the infection has caused the death of the pulp, which is the innermost layer of the tooth, a root canal treatment may be necessary.
Broken or cracked teeth may be treated with bonding material or a dental crown. The treatment fortifies the tooth and fills in missing material to decrease the likelihood of further damage.
Cosmetic Services
Cosmetic dental services, such as veneers and teeth-whitening applications, change the appearance of the teeth, but they do not improve dental health. Veneers are applied to the front of the teeth to make them appear straight, white, and uniform. During teeth whitening, dental bleaches are used to remove stains.
To have the proper dental care prescribed for your teeth, schedule an appointment with a dentist in your local area.
Share